Regina v Achogbuo – WLR Daily

‘An application for permission to appeal against a conviction on grounds of previous incompetent representation by solicitors or counsel should not be made without taking proper steps to inquire whether there was a cogent objective basis for the proposed ground of appeal. It was impermissible to rely alone on the word of the defendant.’

Full story

WLR Daily, 19th March 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Islamic law to be enshrined in British law as solicitors get guidelines on ‘Sharia compliant’ wills – The Independent

Posted March 24th, 2014 in codes of practice, islamic law, Law Society, news, rule of law, solicitors, wills by sally

‘Islamic law is to be effectively enshrined in the British legal system for the first time under guidelines for solicitors on drawing up “Sharia compliant” wills.’

Full story

The Independent, 23rd March 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

English civil court reforms “inconsistent, time-consuming and costly”, says Law Society – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 21st, 2014 in civil procedure rules, costs, Law Society, news, solicitors by sally

‘Civil courts in England and Wales are increasingly valuing “administration over access to justice” since wide-ranging reforms to procedures and costs came into force last year, the Law Society has claimed.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 20th March 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

Criminal solicitors to walk out for third time over legal aid cuts – The Guardian

Posted March 21st, 2014 in budgets, criminal justice, industrial action, legal aid, news, probation, solicitors by sally

“Criminal solicitors across England and Wales are to stage a two-day walkout at the end of the month to coincide with a strike by probation workers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Solicitors Regulation Authority ‘not racist’ but black solicitors treated harshly – The Independent

‘The body that investigates solicitors has been cleared of institutional racism despite an independent inquiry concluding that it disproportionately pursues black and minority ethnic (BME) lawyers for alleged wrongdoing.’

Full story

The Independent, 14th March 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Flawed SRA investigation leads tribunal to strike out case – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has taken the unusual step of striking out a case against two solicitors in the middle of the hearing, after the integrity of the investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) was thrown into question.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 14th March 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Jackson reforms a ‘serious risk’ to justice, says Law Society – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 14th, 2014 in budgets, case management, consultations, costs, news, solicitors by tracey

‘Civil litigation reforms implemented last year pose a risk of injustice to clients and a serious reputational risk for solicitors, the Law Society has said.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 13th March 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Withers ordered to pay out £1.6m over negligence claim – Legal Futures

Posted March 13th, 2014 in damages, drafting, law firms, negligence, news, solicitors by tracey

‘Leading London law firm Withers has been ordered to pay £1.6m in damages after the High Court upheld a claim of professional negligence over the drafting of an LLP agreement.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 13th March 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

APIL granted permission to challenge HMRC policy on mesothelioma victims’ work records – Litigation Futures

‘The High Court is this week hearing a judicial review that claimant lawyers hope will strike down the deeply unpopular policy of HM Revenue & Customs that means it will only release the employment history of a mesothelioma victim to their lawyer with a High Court order.’

Full story

Litigation futures, 12th March 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Solicitor coroner struck off over £2m theft from clients to fund lavish lifestyle – Legal Futures

Posted March 12th, 2014 in compensation, costs, disciplinary procedures, executors, fraud, news, solicitors, theft, wills by tracey

‘A Gloucestershire solicitor who also served as the county’s coroner has been struck off after taking nearly £2m from clients to fund an extravagant lifestyle.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 11th March 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

High Court imposes civil restraint order on former solicitor – Legal Futures

Posted March 11th, 2014 in news, restraint orders, sale of land, solicitors by tracey

‘The High Court has slapped an extended civil restraint order on a former solicitor whose conduct in bringing a series of claims established a “history” of indifference to court orders.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 11th March 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lawyers to walk out for second time in protest against legal aid cuts – The Guardian

Posted March 10th, 2014 in barristers, budgets, industrial action, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘Barristers and solicitors will attempt to bring the criminal justice system to a standstill on Friday in protest at the government’s latest round of £215m cuts to legal aid.’

Full story

The Guardian, 7th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The disturbing conflict of interest at the heart of British justice – Garden Court Chambers

‘Today, lawyers go on strike for the second time since January. The battle is with the Lord Chancellor, Chris Grayling, over his proposed reforms to legal aid. Strike action, from a generally traditional and conservative profession, is all but unprecedented and threatens to bring the criminal justice system to a halt. What has brought relations between the legal profession and Mr Grayling to this pitch?’

Full story

Garden Court Chambers, 7th March 2014

Source: www.gclaw.wordpress.com

New guidance will help barristers carry out their duties to clients, says regulator – Bar Standards Board

Posted March 6th, 2014 in barristers, complaints, legal profession, press releases, solicitors by tracey

‘New guidance for solicitors on how they should assist barristers in telling clients of their right to complain will help members of the Bar carry out their duty, says the Bar Standards Board (BSB).’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 5th March 2014

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Basically, we are all… – NearlyLegal

‘Associated Electrical Industries Ltd v Alstom UK [2014] EWHC 430 is the latest case to be handed down in the post Jackson/Mitchell dystopian legal world.’

Full story

NearlyLegal, 4th March 2014

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

How To: combine two careers – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 4th, 2014 in legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

‘Is it possible to pursue a second vocation alongside the law?’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd March 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Criminal legal aid fee cuts for lawyers confirmed by justice secretary – The Guardian

Posted February 28th, 2014 in barristers, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘Cuts in criminal legal aid fees of 17.5% on average for solicitors and 6% for barristers have been confirmed by the justice secretary, Chris Grayling.’

Full story

The Guardian, 27th February 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge asks attorney general to intervene in VHCCs – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The attorney general is considering intervening to appoint an amicus curiae to assist the court on legal arguments expected to be made on behalf of defendants facing trial without representation in court, the Gazette can reveal.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 25th February 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Regina v Wright (Robert) – WLR Daily

Posted February 24th, 2014 in confiscation, fees, fraud, law reports, proceeds of crime, sentencing, solicitors by sally

Regina v Wright (Robert) [2014] WLR (D) 84

‘Where an insurance company paid a defendant’s solicitors’ fees, for which he would otherwise have been liable, in connection with a false insurance claim he had made, he obtained a pecuniary advantage as a result of or in connection with his false claim, for the purposes of section 76(5) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Therefore, by section 76(4), those fees formed part of the defendant’s benefit from his criminal conduct for the purposes of any confiscation order made under the 2002 Act.’

WLR Daily, 19th February 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Loss of capacity does not automatically terminate solicitor’s retainer – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Upholding the rights of individuals who lack the mental capacity to conduct proceedings can be a minefield for the unwary or even, as shown by this case, the wary. The point at issue before the court was whether, where a party loses mental capacity in the course of proceedings, such loss of capacity has the automatic and immediate effect of terminating their solicitor’s retainer.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 18th February 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com